Ex-Rockstar Dev Halts GTA 6 Trailers: 'Ample Hype Exists'

As anticipation continues to build for more news on Grand Theft Auto 6 following the release of Trailer 1 in 2023, a former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has suggested that no further trailers should be released before the game's launch.

Rockstar released GTA 6 Trailer 1 to record-breaking viewership in December 2023, but has since remained silent on additional assets. The prolonged wait has led to a flurry of conspiracy theories, ranging from counting the holes in Lucia’s cell door net and bullet holes in the car from Trailer 1 to analyzing registration plates. Notably, the "moon watch" theory, which accurately predicted the announcement date of Trailer 1, was debunked as a hint at the release date for Trailer 2.

The burning question on everyone's mind is when *GTA 6 Trailer 2* will be released. Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has hinted that fans might have to wait until closer to the game's release, set for fall 2025, to see more.

However, Vermeij, who served as Rockstar's technical director up until 2008's Grand Theft Auto 4, expressed a different view. He tweeted, "If it was my call I wouldn’t release any additional trailers. There is more than enough hype around VI and the element of surprise is going to make the release only bigger as an event." Responding to a suggestion that Rockstar might only announce the release date, Vermeij called it "a boss move."

Despite the first trailer being labeled as GTA 6 Trailer 1, suggesting more to follow, plans can change. Vermeij shared insights from his experience, noting that Rockstar delayed GTA 4 in July 2007, just three months before its intended October 16, 2007 release date. He speculated that a similar "decision day" for GTA 6 might occur around Take-Two's August earnings report.

99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow

View 51 ImagesIn a March interview with Bloomberg, Zelnick emphasized the importance of maintaining excitement and anticipation for GTA 6. He stated, "The anticipation for that title may be the greatest anticipation I’ve ever seen for an entertainment property. We want to maintain the anticipation and the excitement... We do have competitors who will describe their release schedule for years in advance. And we found that the better thing to do is to provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window in order to create that excitement."

Mike York, a former Rockstar New England animator who worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, suggested on his YouTube channel that Rockstar is intentionally fueling speculation by staying silent. "They're reaching and pulling and trying to come up with these really cool theories to decipher when the next trailer will be," he said, noting that Rockstar's secretive approach enhances the game's allure and fosters community engagement.

Will You Continue to Play GTA Online When GTA 6 Comes Out? ----------------------------------------------------------

Yes! I'm happy with the original GTA OnlineNo! Time to move on to whatever's nextIt depends (tell us why in the comments!)

AnswerSee ResultsYork added that Rockstar's silence is a deliberate marketing tactic, creating theories and hype without needing to release new content. "This brings the fans together. This is a really cool way to get fans to talk about your game when you’re not releasing anything yet, in-between the times."

Zelnick's comments indicate that GTA 6 Trailer 2 might not be released until closer to the game's fall 2025 release date, assuming no delays occur. In the meantime, fans can delve into IGN’s coverage of an ex-Rockstar dev's prediction about potential delays, Zelnick's thoughts on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6, and whether the PS5 Pro will run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.